Page 67 of Miss Manage

Chapter Thirty-Eight

CHARLOTTE

By the time I made it to the baseball field, the familiar mix of sunscreen, damp grass, and cheap coffee clung to the morning air. The usual crowd of parents were already gathered for the game, settling in on the bleachers or in the more comfortable option of lawn chairs down the first- and third-base lines.

Austin was in the outfield, tossing warm-up grounders and bonding with his teammates. Although he wasn’t pitching today, he was slated to play center field.

I found Michelle first, waving both arms like she was trying to guide in a plane. “Over here,” she called, as if I couldn’t see the giant beach umbrella she’d set up like we were tailgating.

And then I spotted him.

Gabriel.

Good grief. He dismounted a motorcycle, and not just any motorcycle—a Harley. A man had no right showing up to a kids’ baseball game looking like a walking midlife-crisis fantasy. The black helmet came off, and he ran a hand through his hair, the movement lazy, unhurried, like he hadn’t single-handedly ruined the masculinity bar for every other man in a hundred-meter radius.

The worn leather jacket, the dark jeans, and the easy confidence were all far removed from the tailored suits and COO energy I was used to. This version of him was rough around the edges and made my pulse skyrocket. But my reaction wasn’t only because of the way he looked; it was because of everything that had happened between us, from the night in San Fran to last night with his daughter.

His tenderness had lodged itself somewhere under my skin, and seeing him now, all swagger and danger in daylight, was…disarming.

Michelle let out a low whistle beside me. “Well, well, look who’s here.”

“Please don’t make it weird.”

Her grin was contagious. “Hello. He’s straddling a Harley, and every married woman here is already working her wedding ring off. The single ones are practically filling out step-daddy applications.”

Of course they were. Besides the dark jeans, he wore a Henley and sunglasses. The faintest hint of a smile played at his lips as he walked toward us with purpose.

“By the way. You didn’t mention he was coming.”

“I wasn’t sure he’d make it,” I casually offered. After last night, I hadn’t known if he’d be wrapped up with Samantha over the weekend. “Austin invited him, remember?”

“God, he just keeps getting hotter. Is there some sort of thing you’re feeding him in the office? Slipping into his coffee.”

“Please stop talking.”

Too late. She was already on the move, waving like they were long-lost friends. “Gabriel. How nice to see you again.”

I closed my eyes briefly. “Please be cool.”

“Is that a plea for me or for you?”

Fair question.

On the other side of the bleachers, I caught sight of Steve, who bounced his gaze between us and Gabriel. Nothing like your ex glaring at your…whatever Gabriel was…while your sister practically rolled out a welcome mat.

“Hey,” Gabriel greeted once he reached us. His voice was low enough to make me forget the proper form of reciprocation.

“Hey,” I finally managed, hoping my smile appeared normal and not like I’d been hit by a truckful of feelings. “How’s Samantha doing?”

His entire face softened at the mention of her. “She’s good. I dropped her off with her mom this morning. She’s threatening to take me to court again.”

I let out a humorless laugh. “Ah. Been there. Hopefully it’s an empty threat?”

“Doubtful since I’m going to push for more time. But things went well last night between us. It’s difficult. Having the grown-up conversations with our kids.”

“Really hard. But important.”

“It was. Probably one of the best nights with her I can remember in recent months. Thank you again for being there for her. It really meant a lot to both of us.”